Vice-Chancellor Highlights Issues of Women and the Arts

In his 1 October address to the Regent House, the Vice-Chancellor stressed the contributions of women and the humanities to the activities of the University.

Professor Sir Alec Broers recalled that it was sixty years since the election of Dorothy Garrod as the first woman professor in the University and twenty five since the election of the University's first woman Vice-Chancellor. Yet today, despite the achievements of women such as Professor Sandra Dawson, women are still under-represented at the highest levels of the University. This was now being tackled through a variety of measures, from more child care to new procedures for academic appointments and promotions.

Dorothy Garrod became Cambridge's first woman professor in 1939.

He said: "We must make a serious commitment to increase the representation of women at the highest levels in the University".

He also spoke about the importance of the arts, humanities and social sciences. Cambridge's proud record in this area was sometimes over-looked in favour of its scientific and technological achievements.

The Vice-Chancellor said: "Important, too, is the need never to overlook the humane needs of our society, a role in which the University is equally strong".